Social / Demographics

The Geekiest Cities in America
Which cities have the most comic book shops, D&D meetups, and LARPing groups?
‘Divided by Design’ Underscores Inequities in Transportation Policy
The report calls for a wholesale overhaul of U.S. transportation policy to redress the damages caused by decades of auto-centric development.

Houston’s Equity Score Leaves Room for Improvement
Houston is an international city, with a diverse population and economy. Its equity indicators, however, are relatively average compared to other U.S. cities.

How to Make Documents More Accessible With Color Contrast
There are many ways planners can be more accessible in their work. This article will briefly touch on color contrast as one of the ways to improve accessibility in planning documents.

Who Is Enjoying the Great Outdoors?
Findings from the 2023 Annual Outdoor Participation Trends Report reveals the “who, how, and where” in participation in outdoor recreation.

Parks and Recreation as a Health Solution
New research by the Trust for Public Land explores connections between urban parks and health, building on prior research and offering insights such as the growing importance of partnerships with health organizations.

‘Queer Byke Brigade’ Wants to Make the Outdoors More Inclusive
A Colorado group of bike enthusiasts is creating a safe, welcoming outdoor space for LGBTQ+ people in Montezuma County.

Planning Through the Eyes of a Big City Mayor
Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall joins the Planning Commission Podcast to talk about housing, street reconfiguration, and saving the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere.

Reimagining Marina del Rey
Los Angeles County is conducting a community needs assessment and planning effort to re-envision and remove barriers to accessing Marina del Rey as a vibrant waterfront destination for all.

Summer Fun at Los Angeles County Parks
L.A. County's popular and award-winning Parks After Dark program returns for the summer, providing opportunities for residents to come together in safe and welcoming spaces where they can access quality programming and a variety of services.

Study: FEMA Buyout Program Could be Accelerating Segregation
A new analysis of the relocation patterns of households that participate in FEMA’s flood buyout program reveals a pattern of increased racial segregation.

How Urban Design Fails Families
For parents of small children, amenities like public restrooms or shady parks can vastly improve—or deteriorate—the experience of navigating cities.

Seniors Over 50 Make up Almost Half of California’s Unhoused Population
A new study finds that low-income seniors are increasingly unable to find affordable housing.

Tulsa’s Cash Incentive Drives Real Community
Thousands of remote workers moved to Tulsa to take advantage of a $10,000 incentive program. The vast majority of them stayed.

Do You Want Fries With That? Exploring the Intricacies of Food Systems Planning
Food systems expert Maggi Adamek talks with The Planning Commission Podcast about the complexities of food policy, from local zoning ordinances to international trade agreements.

The Challenges of Aging in Place
Seniors in one Bay Area community want to stay in their communities, but many find the cost of living and maintaining older homes prohibitive.

In Most U.S. Cities, Archaic Laws Limit Roommate Living
Critics argue laws preventing unrelated adults from living in the same home fail to understand the modern American household.

Assessing the Racial Home Valuation Gap
Research shows that homes in communities of color are consistently undervalued by, in some cases, over $1 million.

Ten Signs of a Resurgent Downtown
In GeekWire, Chuck Wolfe continues his exploration of a holistic and practical approach to post-pandemic urban center recovery, anchored in local context and community-driven initiatives that promote livability, safety, and sustainability.

New Federal Program To Support Services for Unhoused Residents
The ‘ALL INside’ initiative selected five cities and one state—California—for its inaugural efforts to offer assistance to homelessness services and help local agencies access federal funding and resources.
Pagination
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service